Miguel Angel Jiménez continued the excellent week for Spain at Carnoustie when he moved into contention in the 136th Open Championship.
The 43 year old – whose best finish in the event came when he tied for third at Royal Lytham & St Annes in 2001 – followed up his opening 69 with a solid 70 on the Championship Course for a three under par total of 139.
After an early birdie at the fourth hole, back to back bogeys at the ninth and tenth appeared to have dented Jiménez’s challenge, but he bounced back with birdies at the 14th and 16th.
“I am feeling good when I hit it and for two days I have hit it very well,” he said. “Only today I hit two putts short, the rest I hit very, very solidly. I left a couple of chances for birdie on the golf course. All the birdies I make, they're almost given. And I hope through the weekend to do that.”
It has been a notable week for Spanish golf with Seve Ballesteros announcing his retirement and Jimenez admitted that both he and leader Sergio Garcia were determined to do their utmost to honour the great man in the best way possible – with a victory on Sunday night.
“We have to say thank you to Seve for what he did for golf,” he said. “I think it's growing with him, with the help of him. For me when I look at myself and I believe so many players think the same thing.
“We feel proud for what he did for us and we thank him for all he did for us in the past. I hope I have a chance to win the Major here, this Major here. We'll see what happens.”
